Alabama

Mobile's Collmenter finding success through unwavering approach

Josh Collmenter has had plenty of success as he navigates his way through the minor leagues.

And the 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher has done it by staying true to who he is -- no matter where he is.

"That's been a big thing at all three levels -- not change who I am as a pitcher because I'm at a different level," Collmenter said. "I think that has really helped.

"The big thing is just to throw strikes. Make them beat me with the bat."

While Collmenter's consistent mindset has helped him on the mound, he has been a tremendous help to Mobile in its push for the team's first playoff berth since 2004. The former Central Michigan standout is 6-2 with a 1.59 ERA in nine starts since coming to the BayBears in April.

Chip English/CorrespondentMobile's Josh Collmenter is 6-2 with a 1.59 ERA in nine starts for the BayBears this season.

Collmenter was one of nine Mobile players selected to play in Monday's Southern League All-Star Game and earned the win -- playing for the North when they needed an extra arm.

The BayBears (46-41, 10-9 second half) are tied for second place in the South Division in the second half and entertain Jacksonville (50-39, 10-9) beginning tonight at 7:05 for a three-game series at Hank Aaron Stadium. The Suns won the South Division in the first half of the season.

Before arriving in Mobile, Collmenter started the season in Single-A Visalia, where he went 2-0 in three starts. He then was promoted to Triple-A Reno for four starts and was 1-1 before being assigned to the BayBears.

He won his first four starts in Mobile, and said his experiences before coming to Double-A were instrumental in his success.

"The stop in Reno really helped," he said. "That helped my confidence that you can make a good pitch and get a guy to roll over to get a guy to pop out. You don't have to make perfect pitches and they're not these unbelievable hitters that there is no way to get them out.

"You can still get anybody out in a variety of ways."

While you can get hitters out in many ways, Collmenter's approach has been unwavering, much to his benefit. A superb changeup -- developed in college to maximize his unique over-the-top delivery -- has been beneficial for a pitcher who is not overpowering.

Add a quality fastball and an improving curveball and Collmenter is quickly turning into a pitcher with more options to throw at batters.

"I am comfortable throwing the changeup or fastball in any count and I think that helps," Collmenter said. "I can really keep (hitters) guessing. That's my big thing -- to keep hitters off balance as much as possible and make them put bad swings on pitches."

Mobile pitching coach Dan Carlson, himself a former major league pitcher, has been impressed with the 2007 15th-round draft pick.

"He's a tough guy to hit off of," Carlson said. "You talk to anybody in the league and they don't want to hit that changeup. It's a Nintendo-type pitch."

Mobile manager Rico Brogna agreed, adding that Collmenter's mindset and better-than-expected athleticism has aided his ability to average nearly seven innings an outing.

"His plan, his mental approach, is advanced," Brogna said. "He's got athletic ability that allows him to repeat his delivery and therefore his command is good.

"He's got a lot of things going for him and I think he has a good, long career in front of him."

But first, Collmenter is looking to get as much as possible out of his stay in Double-A with the BayBears.

"This year has been fun," he said. "I've probably been on my biggest wave of success as a starter, so hopefully I can take that into every start and finish up the second half strong."